Schumacher family: Birthday vigil utterly overwhemed us and moved us all to tears

4 January, 2014

Fans of all ages and sizes paid tribute to Schumi on his birthday

Michael Schumacher’s family have been “utterly overwhelmed and moved to tears” on the occasion of the Formula 1 legend’s birthday on Friday 3 January, which was marked with a vigil by fans gathered at the Grenoble Hospital and silently around the globe.

The family posted a message of gratitude on Schumacher’s website: “We are overwhelmed!”

“The incredible sympathies shown today [Friday] by the Ferrari Fans outside the hospital has utterly overwhelmed us and moved us all to tears. We are deeply grateful for it and also for all the heartwarming and heartfelt wishes for Michael to get well soon, which have reached us from all over the world,” they added.

A day earlier they had said that Michael “is a fighter and will not give up” his fight for life”.

Tribute made by 170 friends of @Formula1extra, @LoisMarketing (idea) and @F1_Fans_Updates (made the card)

Schumcher’s wife, Corinna and their two children, as well as his father Rolf and brother Ralf – have maintained a presence at his bedside throughout the weekend.

Formula 1 fans made the pilgrimage to the Alpine town of Grenoble to pay tribute to Schumacher, many wearing red and bearing Ferrari flags, while a call was made, by Ferrari, to Formula 1 fans around the world (including Grand Prix 247 readers through their Facebook page) to wear red on the day to pay homage to the most successful grand prix driver of all time.

Schumacher won the Formula 1 world drivers’ title an unprecedented seven times: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, notching up 91 wins and 155 podiums in the process. He drove for Ferrari from 1996 to 2006, winning 72 grands prix in red.

Meanwhile, a source close to French authorities investigating the accident has revealed the existence of a helmet camera used by Schumacher which is being inspected in an effort to see if it can yield any clues as to the circumstances of the accident. The helmet was reportedly split in two by the force of Schumacher’s head impacting against a boulder on the slopes of the Dent de Burgin mountain.

Schumacher’s 14-year-old son Mick and a friend, who were skiing with the F1 legend at the time, were also questioned by investigators, as eye witnesses to the accident.

No further update was given on Schumacher’s condition – which remains stable but critical – by the hospital or his management, on his birthday.

Sky Sports News reported: “We understand that the situation is essentially the same as it has been in the last couple of days so we are now looking at 80 plus hours of Michael Schumacher in a stable condition and although he hasn’t improved, that is a platform at least for his doctors to continue to treat him.” (GP247)